A former employee of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has alleged he was assaulted by members of the company’s Human Resources team after questioning the terms of his termination.
The allegations surfaced in a Reddit post that quickly went viral, where the ex-employee described his experience at TCS’s Yamuna office in Noida. He claimed he was abruptly terminated on 19 September and sought clarity on severance pay, termination grounds and exit procedures. According to his account, repeated emails and calls to HR went unanswered before his official access was revoked by mid-morning.
By late afternoon, he visited the office in person. “I was suddenly terminated and wanted to know three simple things: on what grounds I was terminated, if TCS would give severance pay (they announced in the media they would), and what the process is for separation, like returning the laptop,” he wrote.
The employee alleged that one HR staff member dismissed him outright, saying: “We won’t reply. You are terminated. Fight wherever you want.”
Confrontation at the office
The situation escalated when the employee returned later with his phone camera switched on, citing personal safety. He alleged that a member of the HR team instructed colleagues to seize the device.
“They physically restrained me. My right hand was twisted, I was in pain, and honestly, I felt humiliated,” the employee wrote in the Reddit post.
He added that police took him to the Sector-168 police chowki in Noida, where he submitted a complaint and video evidence. He further claimed that HR representatives were called to the police station but refused to appear. “Now I’m stuck — no severance, no formal reply, and physical assault on top of it,” he wrote.
The Reddit post ended with him asking the community for advice on how to escalate the issue, mentioning options such as labour courts or approaching senior police officials.
Online reaction and scrutiny of TCS
The post has sparked widespread debate on workplace practices in India’s largest IT services company. Reddit users described the allegations as disturbing and advised the employee to seek legal support. Some suggested making the video evidence public to hold those involved accountable.
“In-office assault is a serious concern. The HR might lose his job as well. Talk to a real-life lawyer and maybe post the video on LinkedIn,” one user wrote.
Another commented: “Put the video out. Now it’s not about termination, it’s about physical harassment. Once the video goes viral, see how the company flips. They’ll put everything on the HRs and fire them instead.”
The discussion reflects a growing unease among employees in the IT sector about termination practices. In recent months, multiple social media posts have surfaced alleging high-pressure tactics in performance management and forced resignations. Earlier this year, another TCS employee posted online claiming he was pressured to resign but refused.
TCS yet to respond
At the time of writing, Tata Consultancy Services had not issued a statement in response to the allegations. The company, part of the Tata Group, employs over 600,000 people worldwide and is regarded as one of India’s most prestigious IT employers.
Workplace conduct and employee relations have become sensitive issues for large IT companies navigating economic headwinds and global workforce restructuring. Reports in the Economic Times have noted that Indian IT firms are under pressure to balance cost controls with employee morale amid slowing demand for technology services.
If substantiated, the Noida incident could raise questions not only about TCS’s HR practices but also about how India’s IT industry manages workforce exits in a tightening labour market.